Thanda Safari, the Big Five game reserve situated in KwaZulu-Natal, is introducing a new, five-night Collars for Conservation safari. This safari offers travelers the rare opportunity to witness firsthand the positive impact of their visit.
Travelers will join the Wildlife Conservation Team in identifying, sedating and collaring one of Africa’s iconic species — a lion, leopard, elephant, cheetah or hyena. An essential yet thrilling task, this contribution enables the wildlife conservation team to more effectively monitor and protect the animal as well as gather much-needed data for research.

Villa iZulu, Thanda Safari’s five-suite bush homestead. Photo Credit: Thanda Safari
Travelers will also join team members as they undertake their daily tasks to safeguard and preserve the animals that call the reserve home. Whether tracking big game such as the endangered rhino, using telemetry equipment to locate a rehabilitating cheetah or examining footage from a carefully placed camera trap, they will gain in-depth awareness of the threats faced by some of Africa’s diminishing species together with insight into their behavioural and feeding patterns, ecology and more.
This immersive safari includes helicopter transfers straight from Durban’s King Shaka International Airport to Villa iZulu, Thanda Safari’s five-suite bush homestead.
The five-night Collars for Conservation Package for six guests costs about $48,000. Hosted by a dedicated hospitality team, it is inclusive of all meals and beverages, game drives and bush walks, WiFi, laundry, wildlife conservation activities and transfers by helicopter.